Backflipping FBI Agent Arrested For Shooting Recorded In Viral Video

SandyMalone

Jun 13, 2018

FBI Agent Chase Bishop turned himself in to police on a warrant issued after he accidentally shot a man while dancing.

Denver, CO – The federal agent who dropped his weapon and then accidentally shot a bystander after performing a backflip in a dance club has been charged, and will appear in a Denver courtroom on Wednesday (video below).

The incident, which was captured on video, quickly went internationally viral and has caused significant embarrassment for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

FBI Agent Chase Bishop, 29, turned himself in to Denver police on Tuesday morning, according to KMOV.

Maro Casparian, a spokeswoman for the Denver District Attorney’s Office, said an arrest warrant for Agent Chase had been issued to the Denver Police Department.

Denver District Attorney Beth McCann said in a news release that she was not going to wait for the results of the agent’s blood alcohol test to have him arrested.

“We are filing this charge now rather than waiting until the BAC report is received, which we understand could take another week, because sufficient evidence has been presented to file it,” McCann said. “If an additional charge needs to be filed after further evidence is received, we can file those charges then.”

The incident occurred at about 12:45 a.m. on June 2 at Mile High Spirits, according to The Denver Post.

Video showed the off-duty FBI agent dancing at the distillery and dance club.

While dancing, Agent Bishop did a backflip which caused his gun to drop out of his pants and hit the ground, the video showed.

The gun didn't fire when it fell, but while picking up the gun, the agent accidentally fired the weapon and shot a male onlooker in the leg.

Then Agent Bishop picked up the gun, shoved it back in his waistband and left the dance floor with his hands in the air, the video showed.

"Everyone was kind of shocked after it happened because [the agent] kind of put his gun back away and then he walked away,” a witness told KDVR.

The victim was struck in a main artery by the bullet, and could have bled to death, had a quick-thinking bystander not used his belt as a tourniquet on the victim’s leg, his attorney Frank Azar told KMGH.

Denver police responded to the scene and took Agent Bishop to police headquarters before releasing him to an FBI supervisor. The agent works in Washington, DC, and was visiting Denver at the time of the incident.

Initial reports that charges might be filed after the lab completed tests of his blood alcohol level were met with outrage by members of the Denver community, KMGH reported.

“The main thing I'm concerned about is that he's being given incredibly special treatment because he's an FBI agent,” attorney and legal expert David Lane told KMGH. “Had that been ‘Joe Citizen’ in that bar doing exactly the same thing, the cops would have been there in a heartbeat. They would have slapped the cuffs on him and he would have been in jail on a fairly high bond. Because anybody acting that ridiculously stupid should be in jail on a high bond."

"How many epic screw-ups in life start out with, ‘Hold my drink and watch this?’" Lane asked. “And how many days does it take to review a videotape? You don't have to be Cecil B. Demille to dissect that film. Everybody can see it."

Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper weighed in on the case on Tuesday.

“Those instances where someone puts the public at risk should have consequences,” Hickenlooper said. “At a certain point you have to call attention to it to make sure nobody else does it.”

The Denver Post reported that Agent Bishop was charged with one count of second-degree assault, according to a press release from the Denver District Attorney’s Office.

Thus far, the FBI has not released any information regarding its policy for agents carrying their weapons off-duty.

“In order to preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation, we are unable to comment regarding this matter. The FBI will continue to fully cooperate with the Denver Police Department and the Denver District Attorney’s Office as this matter proceeds through the judicial process,” FBI Spokeswoman Amy Sanders told the Denver Post via email.

Watch video of the incident below:

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Comments (15)

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No. 1-15

LEO0301

Jun 13, 2018

"Hey watch this" the most famous last words of a drunk. Most of us have been there at some point in our lives but when you shoot someone and then walk away like nothing happened there must be consequences. He got what he deserved.

fireslayer

Jun 13, 2018

Are federal agents allowed to conceal carry if they are out drinking?

FpsK9Handler

Jun 13, 2018

No they are not! Strict policy in carrying duty weapon and drinking...Just like most local Pds. He is done as a federal agent!

PickyBiker

Jun 13, 2018

What was he charged with?

Officer Cynical

Jun 13, 2018

So, a zero-retention holster?

Grampz

Jun 14, 2018

It doesn't say in this story what he will be charged with but it should be, at a minimum, reckless endangerment, discharging a weapon in a crowd, failure to be in control of a weapon, and stupidity. Plus whatever charge coincides with the FBI rule of drinking with a handgun in their possession.

Mrs10

Jun 14, 2018

My husband carries off-duty under LEOSA which I understand to be a Federal statue. It's also my understanding that if he (my guy) were to be caught carrying in a location that made more than 50% of it's profits in alcohol sales, the fact that he was carrying would then be a felony, whether or not he actually used the weapon.
If this is the case, wouldn't this agent also be subject to this Federal statue? Not to mention the penalty for neglegent firearm use/discharge and the actual assault that resulted.

Mrs10

Jun 14, 2018

In case you were wondering, this agent would NOT be covered under LEOSA bc of his BAC.

@Officer Cynical, my exact thought. We required all off duty holsters to be at least a level 1 holster. We also did not allow small of back holsters for many reasons, but the most important reason was the potential injury to the spine in an accident or a fall.

@Mrs10, you ma'am are correct, but to the best of my knowledge the part about the 50% profit is not in LEOSA. Sounds like a state or local restriction. But I may be wrong.

LordSeamus

Jun 14, 2018

@Mrs10 Well put. Carrying an off-duty weapon and drinking is one of the STUPIDEST things any LEO , of any level, can do. He deserves to loose his job and his "right" to carry, permanently !

Pack

Jun 14, 2018

As a general rule, I don’t do flips while carrying a firearm.

Mom2Boys

Jun 14, 2018

I didn’t think it was possible for the FBI to be more embarrassed than it has been by its political shinanigans, but here ya go!

Uhh yea it does say what he will be charged with. Sometimes I think I’m with a bunch of children. Wow. HE WAS CHARGED WITH ONE (1) COUNT OF SECOND DEGREE ASSAULT.

61mouse

Jun 14, 2018

The incident, which was captured on video, quickly went internationally viral and has caused significant embarrassment for the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).....LMFAO the FBI does that all by themselves day in day out. They need no help